* Black Kyurem and White Kyurem have the highest {{stat|Attack}} and {{stat|Special Attack}}, respectively, of all {{t|Dragon}}- and Ice-type Pokémon.

* Black Kyurem and White Kyurem have the highest {{stat|Attack}} and {{stat|Special Attack}}, respectively, of all {{t|Dragon}}- and Ice-type Pokémon.

* White Kyurem is the tallest Ice-type Pokémon and the tallest Pokémon introduced in Generation V.

* White Kyurem is the tallest Ice-type Pokémon and the tallest Pokémon introduced in Generation V.

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* Unlike most Pokémon with no evolutionary relatives, Kyurem can learn a move—{{m|Imprison}}—twice with neither instance being at level 1.

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* Unlike most Pokémon with no evolutionary relatives, Kyurem can learn a move—{{m|Imprison}}—twice with neither instance being at level 1. It shares this trait with {{p|Smeargle}}, {{p|Reshiram}}, and {{p|Zekrom}}.

* Kyurem is the only Pokémon that has a base stat total of 660 (as Normal Kyurem) and the only Pokémon that has a base stat total of 700 (as Black Kyurem and White Kyurem).

* Kyurem is the only Pokémon that has a base stat total of 660 (as Normal Kyurem) and the only Pokémon that has a base stat total of 700 (as Black Kyurem and White Kyurem).

* Kyurem is the only member of the Tao trio that cannot learn its {{m|Ice Fang|respective}} {{DL|Move variations|Elemental Fangs|Elemental Fang}}.

* Kyurem is the only member of the Tao trio that cannot learn its {{m|Ice Fang|respective}} {{DL|Move variations|Elemental Fangs|Elemental Fang}}.

While it is not known to evolve into or from any Pokémon, it has two other formes, which are activated by using the DNA Splicers on it and either Zekrom or Reshiram, resulting in a fusion that removes Zekrom or Reshiram from the party until the fusion is undone. It will then become Black Kyurem (with Zekrom) or White Kyurem (with Reshiram). However, it is impossible to own a Black Kyurem and a White Kyurem at the same time, as the game rejects the second fusion of Kyurem with Reshiram/Zekrom.

Along with Reshiram and Zekrom, Kyurem is a member of the Tao trio, which exists in the legends of the Unova region.

Biology

Physiology

Kyurem is a gray and blue colored, bipedal Pokémon of indefinable but seemingly draconic basis. Kyurem has a unique blue head and snout and has yellow eyes without pupils, has a pair of pointed light bluish horns on its head and a yellow crest on its skull. Its jaws are frozen shut by the ice covering its head. Kyurem's neck is long and gray in color with lines running around its whole body, legs, arms and tail. Kyurem has two arms, each with its own claw and each arm is jointed together from its blue oddly shaped wings. Its wings are believed to be used for flying as well as storing cold air and have two spikes of ice each. The ice covering the wings is breakable, revealing gray tendril-like appendages on Kyurem's back. The right side of its body seems to be damaged in some way, as the wing and horn on its head on that side are shorter; the right side of its head also has a spiked edge near its jaw hinge that is absent from its left. Its legs are somewhat slender, unlike Reshiram or Zekrom, and has three sharp ice-like claws on each enormous foot. Its tail has three blue icicle-shaped spikes on its tip. Like its fellow Tao trio members, its tail appears to be some sort of propulsion device or a container of energy; exactly what it is based on is unclear, but it may be a damaged turbine.

Kyurem has two alternate forms, Black Kyurem and White Kyurem, which are formed by combining with Zekrom and Reshiram, respectively, and share many aspects of their designs with them. Their legs are just like Normal Kyurem's legs, but shorter and the middle toe is now ice; White Kyurem has some extra icy details on the legs. Their tails are just like Reshiram's and Zekrom's tails but they are attached to the body with three gray parts of skin. The tails seem to be fully able to move and contain four holes: they are vertical on Black Kyurem and horizontal on White Kyurem's silver rings. Their torsos are similar, but Black Kyurem's torso is more bulky than White Kyurem's torso, which is slim. Their shoulders are covered in 'squares' of ice with two pins protruding from each which can come out and 'plug in' the aforementioned holes. Their arms are quite different: Black Kyurem has Zekrom's arms, but more muscular and without wings, which are attached to the icy shoulders mentioned before, and its left arm and wing are frozen; White Kyurem has thin arms with two rings and three claws each, wings between the rings on its forearms, and its right arm and wing are frozen. Their necks are the same shape, and are long like Normal Kyurem's but now upright; Black Kyurem uses Zekrom's skin and White Kyurem uses Reshiram's fur. In both forms, the ice covering one of Kyurem's jaws (lower for Black Kyurem, upper for White Kyurem) has partially disappeared, allowing it to move its mouth properly.

Gender differences

Kyurem is a genderless species.

Special abilities

Kyurem generates a powerful, freezing energy inside itself, but its body became frozen when the energy leaked out. It is the only Pokémon that can learn Glaciate, while its alternate forms Black Kyurem and White Kyurem can respectively learn Freeze Shock and Ice Burn instead. Black Kyurem and White Kyurem can also learn Zekrom's and Reshiram's signature moves Fusion Bolt and Fusion Flare.

When the DNA Splicers is used on Kyurem, the tendrils on its back allow it to turn Zekrom and Reshiram into their respective Dragon Stones. After doing so, it can use Absofusion on the stone, turning itself into Black Kyurem or White Kyurem.

Behavior

Due to an old legend, it may be assumed Kyurem may be hostile towards Pokémon and humans, due to the fact it supposedly ate them if they were found outside at night.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity: Kyurem appears as an antihero in the storyline. During the team's first expedition to Glacier Palace with researchers Umbreon and Espeon, Kyurem foresees their arrival and saves them from a room deep within the palace where it become impossible for everyone to breathe but the player. It tells the team that the rest of the palace is off limits and that they need to turn back. Before they do, Kyurem rewards the team for their efforts with a great treasure. At the climax of the plot, it is revealed that it is being controlled by a greater entity.

Although several Pokémon are the result of two or more individuals combining (Dugtrio, Slowbro, Slowking, Magneton, Metang, Metagross), Black Kyurem and White Kyurem are the only ones to be shown doing so in the main series games. They are also the only fusions that are not part of a Pokémon's evolution and are the only fusions which have been shown to be reversible.

Kyurem is the only Pokémon to be the version mascot of both versions of a paired version.

Origin

Kyurem and its two counterparts Reshiram and Zekrom are based on the concept of yin and yang in Taoism. Kyurem, however, symbolizes wuji, the absence of yin and yang. In regards to overall design, it appears to be based on a theropod and a European dragon, similar to Zekrom. Kyurem's type, Ice, may allude to the absence of energy and the concept of absolute zero. Kyurem's rock-like body and its origin story of arriving on Earth like a meteor are references to comets, which are largely composed of ice crystals.

Given that its Japanese name contains mu, it may be based on the koanmu.

Name origin

Kyurem may be a combination of 冷 rei (cold), 急冷 kyuurei (rapid cooling), or 雪 yuki (snow) with the kana reversed, and 無 mu (nothing). It may also derive from 零 rei (zero). Rem may mimic the rom of Zekrom and the ram of Reshiram.